Cold rain, warm bath (D4 MA open)

[Susumu Sumiko]

With her evening looking busy, and her afternoon being booked by dinner with a very nice Imperial, there was one major thing on her mind.

Why is it raining again?!

She had dodged the worst of it in the morning, and while it was getting lighter it was still falling so she hurried over to the baths. A chilly rainy day needed a hot steamy bath, and as she had done for four days in a row now after cleaning up she slipped into the hot water with a gasp, her eyes closing and she rested her head against the side.

I wonder if I can convince Susumu-dono to get something like this created on Whispers....

[Kaiu Setsu]

Setsu desperately needed a bath. Damp and rainy outside and a ball later on tonight, he had to be extra clean and shining. After rinsing himself with the bucket of water, he takes a small folded towel to place on top of his head and slides into the bathing area with a good sigh of relieve, "Ahhhh, this is what I am talking about."

[Susumu Sumiko]

It seemed again the tiny Spider was very easy to miss. She'd kept her eyes closed until she heard the tell-tale sound of someone slipping into the water.

"They are lovely right? It's why I've come here every day."

She opened her eyes and looked at the man with an amused smile.

"Hello again."

[Kaiu Setsu]

"Oh, hi there!" He gets surprised by the tiny Spider's sudden appearance. "You sure know the good places in this world, don't you? First the arcade, now the bathhouse. I should definitely follow your online profile to check if you have some cool tips."

[Susumu Sumiko]

"I always take time to study any destination I go to. Primarily to learn my way around, but also so I know where the interesting spots are, like this bathing house" Sumiko chuckled "I'll take it by your surprise you weren't enticed into the baths because I was here?"

She shook her head.

"However if you find any profile of me online, don't follow it - it won't be me doing it. I don't think anyone would impersonate someone of my little importance anyway but I'm curious now...maybe I'll have to do a search on myself."

[Kaiu Setsu]

Setsu spreads his arms at the rim of the bathing area to support himself and mentions back to Sumiko, "Oh, my surprise is simply because I actually didn't see you when I got in." "

Then he chuckles again, making fun of their Clan rivalry, "It is a public place, after all. It is expected that all sorts of samurai may enter."

[Susumu Sumiko]

"I was here before you were Kaiu-sama" Sumiko chuckled "I understand however. I'm very small and easy to miss."

She considered the question and just grinned.

"That means there could be anyone anywhere. Even right behind you, ne?"

[Kaiu Setsu]

"True." He nods, knowing all too well there should be a Scorpion spy nearby overlooking at both of them at this exact moment. "You're not easy to miss, though."

[Susumu Sumiko]

"I'm not easy to miss? Are you sure?" Sumiko said with a chuckle "you did miss me after all, as I was here before you were."

[Kaiu Setsu]

"I mean you're too nice to be so easily missed. That's what I meant. I take lots of people like to be around you. Not literally as in missed in sight." He comments.

[Susumu Sumiko]

"Oh" Sumiko laughed "that's very nice of you to say, thank you! I do try to be nice. How has Kaiu-sama been? We still need to arrange the sandcastle building neh?"

[Kaiu Setsu]

"I've been wondering if you would forget that one." He chuckles, "Specially now with all these rumors about me."

[Susumu Sumiko]

"I forget very little Kaiu-sama" Sumiko grinned, before a curious look.

"Hmm...ah, hai. I certainly have heard some things about you, you seem to have gained a little notoriety around one of my kin after all. Yakumo-sama is very beautiful though, and extremely talented, so I can understand why you may be interested in her. Maybe a little too extreme if the whispers around are accurate though."

[Kaiu Setsu]

He facepalms, trying to rub that thing off, as sticky as that web may be. He replies, "She's definitely beautiful and talented. Yet what happened was my failure into passing the proper message when I posted online. I tried to somehow compliment her. Some fans really took that as an offense, I believe. Perhaps out of jealousy. I wouldn't know. Then, I became the target."

The Crab laughs a bit and looks up the the ceiling, "I have nothing against her, besides her being Spider, like you are. Jigoku, I even listen to her songs and enjoy. So dumb of me, I tried to correct that by explaining. Like I am doing now. Of course it didn't work out."

With a sigh, Setsu confesses, "I just don't care anymore. Think what you will. I'll hold no grudge."

[Susumu Sumiko]

Sumiko listened to the man, and sat quietly while she thought for a few moments.

"I understand Kaiu-sama. Sometimes fans can turn on nothing more than a misspoken word. I won't ask what was said, nor what happened afterwards. I don't view you any differently Kaiu-sama. If I may offer some advice?"

She paused, considering her words before speaking again.

"Sometimes the best way to improve a situation is to say nothing. If people claim you are stalking her, then continuing to approach to explain will fuel that rumour neh? Trying to fix the situation may become something worse, and spiralling into a situation that damages you and your kin. Or worse, you take the teachings of Kyoso to heart and it becomes an obsession. If you keep some distance, eventually this winter will end and this can be left in the past."

[Kaiu Setsu]

At the mention of a Dark Fortune, Setsu's Hida sense does peak at alarming levels. He takes a deep breath to control an unnecessary outburst and nods, understanding where she wanted to go with her rationale. "Sumiko-san is wise. I take her advice in my heart."

A moment and he asks, "Hey, call me by my chosen name if you would like. I owe you that for being so nice."

Another moment and he adds, "Just don't it in front of my clanmates, or yours."

Setsu laughs at the idea.

[Susumu Sumiko]

"If you're sure Setsu-sama" Sumiko said with a smile "I'm glad I could help. I don't think you are a bad person, just awkward circumstance. Easy to happen in a courtly environment."

She took a moment to cup some water and pour it over her face before speaking again.

"At least there are plenty of activities to do that don't involve famous artists right? What did you think of the displays yesterday?"

[Kaiu Setsu]

"Right. Although yesterday I played with one of these famous artists." He laughs a bit, "Kitsune-san was a good sport, even if we completely missed the point of the game."

[Susumu Sumiko]

"They do seem to be around a lot" Sumiko said with a chuckle "while I don't understand the obsession with celebrities, they do get more attention. I guess I'm lucky as I've met Susumu-sama a few times now and worked with her in the past, much to the great envy of my friends back home. The Oshidama was fun, even if I'm not suited to that kind of game."

[Kaiu Setsu]

"I thought you played really well." He says with a shrug, "I mean, disconsider my performance for that analysis."

Another beat and Setsu mentions, "You played video game pretty well, too, and... I kind of noticed that you may have a knack for coding, too. Isn't that right?"